Detroit Free Press Sports Writer

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Prince Fielder slides to score on a wild pitch. Of his off-season training, he says, "I'm a little lighter on my feet, a little quicker." / Carlos Gonzalez/McClatchy-Tribune

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M INNEAPOLIS -- Target Field's home plate might never be the same after Prince Fielder pounded it on what charitably would have been defined as a "slide," scoring on a wild pitch in the eighth inning Monday. His "plop" looked like he was auditioning as Ndamukong Suh's replacement on that silly celebrity diving television show.

It was a source of amusement in the Tigers' clubhouse afterward.

Wasn't his new affinity for mixed martial arts training supposed to improve his agility?

OK, his sliding needs a little work. But there's nothing but full respect in that clubhouse for Fielder's efforts this off-season. They see the difference and wonder what he's capable of achieving.

He's probably in the best physical condition of his career. He's still big, but he's quite lithe for somebody who still tips the scales at 270-plus.

There are several candidates nominated for Fielder's biggest moment in the Tigers' 4-2 Opening Day win over Minnesota. There was the double he jerked down the third-base line in the first inning. There was the scoop of shortstop Jhonny Peralta's throw with the equivalent of a hockey goalie's glove that ended an inning and denied a crucial Minnesota run. And there was that run scored on a wild pitch.

But the truly telling moment of the afternoon was when Fielder quickly bounded to his right on a hard-hit ground ball. He grabbed it and flipped it to Joaquin Benoit covering first base.

Fielder probably doesn't make that play last year.

He stepped up big last year, signed primarily because the Tigers lost Victor Martinez for the season following major knee surgery. But there's less pressure on Fielder in his second year in Detroit. He was the savior last season. He's another valuable piece this season.

Could it be most valuable?

The Tigers have won the American League MVP the past two years with Miguel Cabrera last year and Justin Verlander in 2011. With so much interest in whether Cabrera can come close to matching last year's Triple Crown and whether Verlander can live up to the new $180-million contract extension, Fielder could wind up having the biggest season of anybody on the team because few are paying attention.

"He quietly had one heck of a game," manager Jim Leyland said regarding Fielder's Opening Day performance.

Fielder is more comfortable this season. He never admitted it openly, but there was a measure of uncertainty returning to Detroit as the Prodigal Son.

Everyone in the organization would be ecstatic if he delivered the same offensive numbers as a year ago (30 home runs, 108 RBIs and a .313 batting average). But after one game, it looks as though he spent as much time in the off-season working on defense, which meant improving his foot speed as much as accelerating his bat speed.

"I only lifted a little bit," he said. "I like to play every day. Instead of lifting very heavy, I really wanted to work on my agility and my footwork and be able to stay limber and take all the banging off my joints. It's paying off so far. I'm a little lighter on my feet, a little quicker."

The MMA training helped considerably.

Fielder is poised for a big season -- in every aspect of his game.

"I'm sure he's probably more comfortable now after having a season getting used to American League pitching," Leyland said.

Fielder might have gotten a little blindsided last season with how seriously Detroit takes its Tigers. It's not a baseball town. But it loves its Tigers.

And that could have contributed to the off-season motivation.

Fielder pushed himself further than before because he better understands the expectations facing this team with Martinez hitting behind him and everyone believing that three straight years of postseason play are an inevitability rather than an inspiration.